the press conference being held by the police. it's taking place right now we will bring you all the latest from it. hamas says there won't be any talks about prisoner swaps until the israeli offensive in gaza ends. christmas getaways are ruined for thousands as cross—channel rail services are suspended due to an unexpected strike in france. a top eu court rules that uefa's ban on a european super league is unlawful. hello, welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. we start with breaking news from the czech republic. authorities there say ten people have been killed after a shooting

at a university in prague. about 20 more were injured, some of them seriously. police say the gunman was also killed. these are the live pictures coming out of prague. the latest lanes we are getting from this latest press conference is that the shooters body was found at the faculty of arts after a long search by police of the university area. also going the police that the suspect�*s �*s father was found dead earlier on today. so those are the latest lines that we are hearing. we are also hearing that he was indeed, the suspect, i mean, a student at the suspect, i mean, a student at the university at the university in prague. if you remember or have been watching the programme over the last couple of hours can i have been speaking to various journalists inside prague who have been telling me that that is what people have been saying, but had not been confirmed. now it has. another suspect was a university student, that his father was found dead

earlier on in the day. of course, we are now hearing that 15 people at least have now died as a result of this mass shooting in prague. the shooting happened at the faculty of arts, it's near major tourist sites, like for example, the iconic bridge in prague, police have evacuated the building. they also told people to avoid the area around the square, which has been sealed off, the interior minister has tried to reassure residents, saying there's now no imminent danger. the czech president, petr pavel, has expressed his shock and sent his condolences to those affected. a hugely shocking event to happen in prague. live now to prague — and jan richter — a journalist with euro weekly. thank you so much forjoining us here on bbc news. if you can first of all tell me who you have spoken

to, because i have been told by the producers outside that you've spoken to someone who has a connection to the shooting, tommy mar. i to someone who has a connection to the shooting, tommy mar.— the shooting, tommy mar. i have soken the shooting, tommy mar. i have spoken to — the shooting, tommy mar. i have spoken to the _ the shooting, tommy mar. i have spoken to the father— the shooting, tommy mar. i have spoken to the father of _ the shooting, tommy mar. i have spoken to the father of one - the shooting, tommy mar. i have spoken to the father of one of. the shooting, tommy mar. i have| spoken to the father of one of the students who is in the building when the shooter schoolmates barricaded themselves inside one of the classrooms, fortunately, this whole group made it out fine and alive. that must have been very, very upsetting and shocking. what more can you tell us? it is upsetting and shocking. what more can you tell us?— can you tell us? it is a shock for all of us- _ can you tell us? it is a shock for all of us- of— can you tell us? it is a shock for all of us. of course, _ can you tell us? it is a shock for all of us. of course, for- can you tell us? it is a shock for all of us. of course, for the - all of us. of course, for the students, you might have seen some of the photos of the building where we saw students hiding on the outside, on one of the ledges of the building. so this is a shocking event. we had something similar but not, you know, seven people were

killed four years ago in a hospital in another part of the country, but, you know, this is truly a shocking event for the czech republic, which is not known as a violent gun culture country. we is not known as a violent gun culture country.— is not known as a violent gun culture count . ~ . , ., culture country. we are 'ust hearing in the last few * culture country. we are 'ust hearing in the last few minutes _ culture country. we are just hearing in the last few minutes from - culture country. we are just hearing in the last few minutes from the - in the last few minutes from the minister, the interior minister that the prague shooting is not linked to international terrorism. there has been a press conference and we are hearing various lines coming into us from that press conference, one of them being that the shooter was a student at the university. another line we are hearing from the police is that his father was found dead earlier in the day, i believe. yes. earlier in the day, i believe. yes, that is the _ earlier in the day, i believe. yes, that is the information _ earlier in the day, i believe. yes, that is the information i - earlier in the day, i believe. yes, that is the information i also - earlier in the day, i believe. ya: that is the information i also got from the father of one of the students i spoke to her. he said they recognised the shooter. there is a name, but i'm not sure since it has not been confirmed by police that i should just start of thought around, but what we do seem to know

now is he was just, he just turned 24, now is he was just, he just turned 2a, he was a student of history at the faculty of arts, and the police, as it happens, put out a search warrant or a missing person warrant just today for a person that sort of corresponds to the description and the area as well where he is from. it seems that person was indeed the shooter because the police said he committed suicide. he killed himself. as committed suicide. he killed himself. �* , ., ., committed suicide. he killed himself. , ., ., himself. a number of those have lost their lives. initially _ himself. a number of those have lost their lives. initially when _ himself. a number of those have lost their lives. initially when the - their lives. initially when the story was first reported, we were hearing about several people. that number has tragically not risen to 15 people at least you have lost their lives. this isjust absolutely horrendous news. it their lives. this is 'ust absolutely horrendous news._ their lives. this is 'ust absolutely horrendous news. it is. the police at about two _ horrendous news. it is. the police at about two or _ horrendous news. it is. the police at about two or three _ horrendous news. it is. the police at about two or three hours - horrendous news. it is. the police at about two or three hours ago, i at about two or three hours ago, they said ten people lost their lives in the shooting, but as you said, the ministerjust, i think it was the police president can actually come who gave the information, said it was more than

at least 15 people. the problem is, from what i heard from the person i spoke to, that many of the people were injured really severely. were taken to prague hospitals, so it's likely, unfortunately, that some of them might die of their wounds. what them might die of their wounds. what has been set — them might die of their wounds. what has been set up _ them might die of their wounds. what has been set up the _ them might die of their wounds. what has been set up the police reaction to this? there was mention that the police and i'm not travis has been confirmed yet, the police actually looking for this guy they were looking for this guy they were looking for this guy they were looking for the sky throughout the day, and managed to get into the university and should people, but we know about that link that potentially he was wanted by the police i potentially he was wanted by the olice ., , ,, , police i only saw the missing person notice after — police i only saw the missing person notice after the _ police i only saw the missing person notice after the shooting. _ police i only saw the missing person notice after the shooting. i - police i only saw the missing person notice after the shooting. i don't - notice after the shooting. i don't usually go there every day, so i only saw it after. i'm not sure of that time. i can't confirm this. that is unconfirmed. 0k. let me ask

you before you go, about the impact this is going to have on prague, on the whole country, because this is obviously a huge event happening just a few days before christmas and involving a potentially number of young people as well. right involving a potentially number of young people as well. right now, i think the country _ young people as well. right now, i think the country is _ young people as well. right now, i think the country is going - young people as well. right now, i think the country is going to - think the country is going to realise what is happening or what has happened. by shock and disbelief, this is not something, we see this usually on the news from other parts of the world. we don't take this in our country are neighbouring countries at all. so you know, it will take a few days to actually see again what happened. it's difficult to predict, because there's been an ongoing debate about there's been an ongoing debate about the gun regulation roles in the czech republic. the majority of the opinion, i would say, is that the laws, the regulations are sound.

there is no need to make them stricter or loose and then. there is not much history of violence or gun violence in the country, first we must establish a motive of what was going on, why the man decided to do such a horrible disturbing thing. i know that back in 2019, the czech government tried unsuccessfully to overturn eu ban on semiautomatic rifles for private use. i mean, that now, obviously, people are going to look back at that and think about that, maybe there will be a bit of a change in the way guns are viewed in the czech republic. i change in the way guns are viewed in the czech republic.— the czech republic. i think the key will be what _ the czech republic. i think the key will be what kind _ the czech republic. i think the key will be what kind of— the czech republic. i think the key will be what kind of weapon - the czech republic. i think the key will be what kind of weapon that l will be what kind of weapon that nan used and whether it was legal or not. i saw the pictures, i'm no gun experts, but i would think, it didn't seem to me like a hunting rifle or anything like that. once it is obvious where the gun came from,

we will know more. i'm sure this will reopen the debate about checks and gun regulations. it is will reopen the debate about checks and gun regulations.— and gun regulations. it is good to talk to. thank _ and gun regulations. it is good to talk to. thank you _ very much indeed. let's reiterate what we have heard in a press conference, which we took a very briefly live to a moment ago, the latest lines coming into us are that 15 people are now confirmed to have been killed by the gunmen at the university building. a further 2a people are now known to have been injured. a number of those have been injured. a number of those have been injured very severely indeed and have been taken to local hospitals. i want to show you one more time some incredibly upsetting pictures of the local, the scene at the time of the local, the scene at the time of the local, the scene at the time of the shooting. i don't know if we have pictures, but a minute ago, the quick charge of pictures of a group of people. we think of a potentially, they are students clinging onto the side of the building very, high app. a few stories up at the side of the

university building. i think we had a still picture that we played a little bit earlier. i'm not sure if we can find that or not. these pictures we are seeing our people hiding around the area as the event unfolded. and you can see there a police car making its way to the scene of what happened. of course, this is a very, i think, there we 90, this is a very, i think, there we go, can retake the strap off, maybe four if we lose the strap, there we go. you canjust about four if we lose the strap, there we go. you can just about see the group of people clinging onto the side of that building. they must�*ve exited through one of those windows to the balcony, absolutely incredibly upsetting pictures there, and fear we will bring you more pictures as and when we get here on bbc news. let's not talk to someone who is from the uk but is on holiday in prague. let's cross live to speak to joe hyland, who is on holiday in prague.

he was around 50—100 metres away from the shooting and witnessed the chaos. tell me more about where you were. yeah, so we had just gone up to prague castle and were heading down towards charles bridge, which is obviously the bridge next to the bridge of the shooting, and then as we were walking towards prague castle, we thought about getting lunch, so we went to go across the bridge, and as we were at the other side of where the shooting happened, we heard loud gunshots. the first one really loud, but we didn't think much of it until we heard people screaming, running away, police sirens coming, and we said this is serious and decided to run to go to the next tube stop, but obviously my friend, harry, on crutches, and we couldn't run with him, so we had to hobble as quick as he could with ten and bring family and loved ones...

it must�*ve been really, really scary. he actually heard the gunshots. how did you know they were gunshots? was obvious? so gunshots. how did you know they were gunshots? was obvious?— gunshots? was obvious? so the cunshots gunshots? was obvious? so the gunshots weren't _ gunshots? was obvious? so the gunshots weren't obvious - gunshots? was obvious? so the gunshots weren't obvious at - gunshots? was obvious? so the l gunshots weren't obvious at first. gunshots? was obvious? so the i gunshots weren't obvious at first. i remember— gunshots weren't obvious at first. i remember the first one can i sort of looked _ remember the first one can i sort of looked at _ remember the first one can i sort of looked atjoe and i said, is that... almost— looked atjoe and i said, is that... almost questioning myself, and then you saw_ almost questioning myself, and then you saw people running in here a few screams_ you saw people running in here a few screams and — you saw people running in here a few screams and thoughts, it can't be. you tell_ screams and thoughts, it can't be. you tell yourself almost you see on the news _ you tell yourself almost you see on the news and you almost think, you are not— the news and you almost think, you are not going to be in it in that situation _ are not going to be in it in that situation. and you hear another one, and another— situation. and you hear another one, and another one. and we heard police sirens— and another one. and we heard police sirens and _ and another one. and we heard police sirens and then it became clear that we need _ sirens and then it became clear that we need to— sirens and then it became clear that we need to get out of here. that wasn't _ we need to get out of here. that wasn't so — we need to get out of here. that wasn't so easy either. that we need to get out of here. that wasn't so easy either.- wasn't so easy either. that thing that i like most _ wasn't so easy either. that thing that i like most about _ wasn't so easy either. that thing that i like most about what - wasn't so easy either. that thing that i like most about what i - wasn't so easy either. that thing | that i like most about what i read about what you did is he called your parents straightaway, because i bet they would have been really, really worried otherwise.—

worried otherwise. yeah, it's the sort of thing _ worried otherwise. yeah, it's the sort of thing you _ worried otherwise. yeah, it's the sort of thing you think _ worried otherwise. yeah, it's the sort of thing you think about - worried otherwise. yeah, it's the sort of thing you think about in i sort of thing you think about in those — sort of thing you think about in those moments, it's our first holiday. _ those moments, it's our first holiday, we just have us boys. and when _ holiday, we just have us boys. and when something like that happens you think first, _ when something like that happens you think first, you've got to call your loved _ think first, you've got to call your loved ones — think first, you've got to call your loved ones because you don't know if you will— loved ones because you don't know if you will be _ loved ones because you don't know if you will be able to speak to them. we got _ you will be able to speak to them. we got onto the tube, and obviously we don't know how many attackers there are, we don't know what the attackers are, is the two of the best place are the worst place to go? we need to wring our parents and say we love them, message our friends, all of that, sojust in case, we went to the other way to our hotel because the hotel was through the central prague, and we just wanted to get out of that situation as quick as possible. that to me sounds _ situation as quick as possible. that to me sounds really _ situation as quick as possible. that to me sounds really quite stressful. has it affected you? as he said, it's your first holiday with the

lads. it's the last thing you are expecting. i know you are taking it well now, but do you think that it's going to affect you moving forward? speaking for myself, it hasn't really — speaking for myself, it hasn't really sunk in what we just witnessed and what we've been through — witnessed and what we've been through. if feels a bit like a fever dream _ through. if feels a bit like a fever dream i— through. if feels a bit like a fever dream. ithink through. if feels a bit like a fever dream. i think when we land back in the uk, _ dream. i think when we land back in the uk, we— dream. i think when we land back in the uk, we make here a lot more, but now tonight, _ the uk, we make here a lot more, but now tonight, we've got things books, things— now tonight, we've got things books, things we _ now tonight, we've got things books, things we want to do, but because we are in— things we want to do, but because we are in a _ things we want to do, but because we are in a foreign country, we are questioning ourselves of when can we io questioning ourselves of when can we go into— questioning ourselves of when can we go into these things. if we feel safe enough to do these things. we are very— safe enough to do these things. we are very shaken.| safe enough to do these things. we are very shaken.— are very shaken. i can imagine, i can imagine- _ are very shaken. i can imagine, i can imagine- i— are very shaken. i can imagine, i can imagine. i would _ are very shaken. i can imagine, i can imagine. i would be - are very shaken. i can imagine, i can imagine. i would be shaken. are very shaken. i can imagine, i. can imagine. i would be shaken as well. thank you, all of you, for taking the time to speak to us at the bbc. and i wish you a safe

journey back home.— the bbc. and i wish you a safe journey back home. thank you very much. journey back home. thank you very much- thank— journey back home. thank you very much. thank you _ journey back home. thank you very much. thank you very _ journey back home. thank you very much. thank you very much. - much. thank you very much. bringing ou a little much. thank you very much. bringing you a little bit — much. thank you very much. bringing you a little bit more _ much. thank you very much. bringing you a little bit more information - you a little bit more information now that we are getting from that news conference we took you to very briefly earlier. we are now hearing that that gunman was a 24—year—old from town or village around 21.3 km outside of prague. he apparently left his hometown, this is the police saying this, with the intention of committing suicide. at about 12115 intention of committing suicide. at about 1245 local time, police found about 1245 local time, police found a dead body in the shooter's town. it turns out that that body was the shooter's father, and they put up something along the lines of a search warrant for the student to then obviously made his way to the university where he carried out this horrendous attack. you may now go alive to the university and speak to the student journalist.

alive to the university and speak to the studentjournalist. you are locked down for more than an hour following today's shooting, tell me what happened. following today's shooting, tell me what happened-— what happened. actually, i had a class today _ what happened. actually, i had a class today which _ what happened. actually, i had a class today which ended - what happened. actually, i had a class today which ended at - what happened. actually, i had a class today which ended at 2pm. | what happened. actually, i had a - class today which ended at 2pm. the faculty, of course, has another building that is just five minutes from the main building. there is a library. i went there to pick up a book, but when i came there, there were policemen standing all around, so ijust asked a student on the street if we are allowed to go to the library. she said that she was just evacuated and she had no idea what is going on. so i came back to the main building and i went straight to the library, that's the library i was locked in. i was having a work meeting and i was

sitting in a part of the library where you are allowed to speak, take phone calls. there was a small table just next to the window, i was sitting there, i was having a talk with my colleague about what happened in another building, i had no idea what was going on, then, as i watch next to the window, ijust saw, i don't know the number, but many, many cars, police cars, and it wasjust many, many cars, police cars, and it was just so my colleague said maybe something is coming on, in case something is coming on, in case something happens, come and pick me “p something happens, come and pick me up and we were just talking. then, after two minutes, there was a police man with a gun, two police men with guns standing next to the window just showing men with guns standing next to the windowjust showing me with their

hands to get out of the window, so i left the room, i went to the main room of the library and we where it just told by the staff of the library that there is something going on, but we have no idea, no details, no information what exactly is happening, theyjust said to stay calm and sit somewhere and stay in this room and they told us we are safe, but we need to stay calm after a few minutes we were instructed to go to a room with no windows, we were sitting in the main room of the library. it's got a class ceiling... that sounds really, really frightening. must have been a shocking situation for you to have to go through. it shocking situation for you to have to go through-—

shocking situation for you to have to go through. it was shocking, but i met to go through. it was shocking, but i met another— to go through. it was shocking, but i met another student _ to go through. it was shocking, but i met another student there, - to go through. it was shocking, but i met another student there, it's i i met another student there, it's funny how normally i wouldn't approach someone and just say hey, how are you, but in this kind of crisis,... and we were just surviving together... went for it without being really scared or screening orjust having a panic attack, we werejust screening orjust having a panic attack, we were just making fun of it, because it is my coping mechanism that i usually make fun of something, and it's helped us to stay calm and to be ok, but when we were there in the room not really

sure how long, but after, the policeman came and they wear... this was the moment itjust clicked in my head, ok, there is something really happening. head, 0k, there is something really ha eninu. . ., head, 0k, there is something really ha eninu. . ,, head, 0k, there is something really haueninu. . ~' , head, 0k, there is something really haueninu. . , . happening. thank you very much indeed for _ happening. thank you very much indeed forjoining _ happening. thank you very much indeed forjoining us, _ happening. thank you very much indeed forjoining us, and - happening. thank you very much indeed forjoining us, and thank| happening. thank you very much i indeed forjoining us, and thank you for describing what happened to you, and i hope that you are able to make your way home and get some rest this evening. thank you once again. student at the charles university, and, of course, it is a very well—known university around the world, one of the oldest in europe, and what has happened there, i think and what has happened there, i think and ijust talking to people, shocked the nation. let's speak to teresa, who has been listening to that news conference we talked about a little earlier. good to talk to you, teresa. give us an insight into what new information we got from that practice conference.— what new information we got from that practice conference. yeah, so, the basic information _

that practice conference. yeah, so, the basic information it _ that practice conference. yeah, so, the basic information it was - that practice conference. yeah, so, the basic information it was a i the basic information it was a 24—year—old man, he was from the village outside of prague. he left his village, as police said, with the intention to commit suicide. he was a student at the university. he was a student at the university. he was having a seminar later in the day in prague. when he left his village, they found a body, it was found out it was his father, so that sort of brought up the search warrant for him. around, like, 1169, colleagues got information about the shooting. but unfortunately, they went to a different building because the building, the shooter was supposed to have a seminar in, but unfortunately he was shooting in the main building, so that created this in between. but by 1520 can it's

believed that the shooter was dead. he was found dead on a balcony of the building. for now, from what i was hearing, it is not clear if police shot to mark he shot himself. it is yet to be confirmed. but let me just say the police were saying he was a class student, so there is no history or air why it would give indication that he was planning something like that. they've also said that it's believed that the shooter inspired himself by another terrorist attack, which happened earlier this year in autumn in russia, it's believed that it's the inspiration. also, none thing which police said is that he was the legal owner of multiple weapons, which doesn't make this any easier. that's basically about it. that's all we know. there is believed to be more than 15 people dead and another 2a

being hurt. the bodies don't have the identity of the people —— the police don't have the identity of the people dead because as of now, the people dead because as of now, the whole scene is still unsafe. so they are trying to tackle it and the government is still asking the general public to stay away from the area. there were also some rumours about a second shooter or someone helping the shooter, but police, they don't believe there was anyone helping him and he was acting alone. it was a planned attack by him alone. ., ~ it was a planned attack by him alone. ., ,, ,., it was a planned attack by him alone. ., ,, y., , alone. teresa, thank you very much indeed for bringing _ alone. teresa, thank you very much indeed for bringing us _ alone. teresa, thank you very much indeed for bringing us up _ alone. teresa, thank you very much indeed for bringing us up with i alone. teresa, thank you very much indeed for bringing us up with what | indeed for bringing us up with what was said at that press conference. so let's bring you all the top lines from this developing story, they are that it has been confirmed by police authorities in prague in the czech

republic that 15 people have been killed. we believe 2a people have been injured by a gunman who opened fire at the charles university. the university is located in central prague, very close to the mediaeval 14th or 15th century charles bridge, the iconic location within prague. we have heard from various witnesses who describing told by police to get down, to get out of the area as quickly as they possibly could. the pictures we see show people running away from the scene, running down the streets and as fast as possible away from the gunman. we hear the gunman was a 24—year—old student of the university who lived in a village around 21.3 km away from prague. the latest that we heard there from teresa, our bbc journalist in the czech republic is that we believe the gunman killed his father earlier on in the day before making his way to prague and to the university. i think we can

take you very briefly live to the scene in prague. there is still a huge police presence, as teresa confirmed earlier, there are suites of the city of prague that are still out of bounds for anyone who lives or works there, and each for us as well. we heard from the interior minister earlier on, the police shooting is in no way linked to international terrorism. very much the city of prague and the country at the czech republic is really coming to terms now with what has been the biggest mass shooting the country has ever seen. more on this story, of course, throughout the day here on bbc news. back in a few moments. hello there. storm pia has been bringing some very strong gusts of wind, particularly to the northern half of the uk. and those winds have been causing problems. an overturned lorry here on the barton bridge,

which is one of the higher bridges on the m60, manchester's ring road just by the trafford centre. there has been then some disruption. top gusts so far, 81 miles an hour across in shetland. but we have seen some very strong gusts of wind elsewhere, 76 in inverbervie, which is in aberdeenshire and over the tops of the pennines. the winds have been gusting quite close to 80 miles an hour across the very, very peaks. now the centre of storm pia is actually quite a long way to our east and it will be bringing some very, very strong winds into denmark as we go through the next 12 hours or so. meanwhile, for us, those very strong winds will very gradually begin to fade away through the afternoon. but that said, we're still looking at gusts of wind well into the fifties or even sixties of miles an hour through the rest of the afternoon. so there still could be a few issues in terms of power cuts and a bit of transport disruption through the rest of today. then overnight, it stays quite windy. outbreaks of rain across the north and the west, starting to turn colder in shetland, where we are looking at some snowfall here. could be a few centimetres,

leading to some icy conditions. and for a time with those strong winds, blizzard conditions in shetland seem likely as well. on into friday's forecast, we've got some rain pushing in from the north and west. still quite a blustery kind of day. the coldest air still across parts of northern scotland, where temperatures not getting much above freezing. in lerwick, the mildest weather. further southwards for northern ireland, england, wales, where temperatures typically be around 11 or 12 degrees celsius. it continues to be relatively mild across most of the uk on saturday. the cold air really confined to northern scotland. but as the weather front bumps into that cold air, we probably will see a spell of snow friday night and into the first part of saturday across northern scotland, even potentially down to low levels. but, ultimately, the milder air will push its way in, so any snow will tend to turn back to rain as we go through the day on saturday across northern scotland. and we'll finish with these kind of temperatures — 12 or 13 degrees celsius. it will end up being pretty mild for most of us.

staying mild, then, as we head into the weekend. for christmas day itself, might see the weather cold enough across northern scotland for some mountain flurries.

this is bbc news, the headlines czech police say a gunman has killed ten people and seriously injured nine at a university building in central prague. police then killed the attacker.

this is the scene live in prague. the attack took place in the charles university's faculty of arts. police have evacuated the building and warned people to avoid the area an absolute catastrophe — diplomats describe the humanitarian situation in sudan — following the suspension of aid work in some areas. a top eu court rules that uefa's ban on a european super league is unlawful breaking news story from the czech republic. 15 people have been killed after shooting at a university and many others are injured and some seriously. we believe the number of injured stands at around 24. police said the shortest body was also found at the scene by police let us take you live now to the latest darkness truly fallen on prog but the police are very much out in